Arizona teachers from Scottsdale Unified, Tucson Unified, Amphitheater Unified, and Union Elementary School District are facing disciplinary action today by the State Board of Education. The four teachers are accused of everything from allowing peanuts in the classroom to sharing smut in front of students.
Acording to the SBE reports:
Cathleen Smith taught at the Richard B. Wilson K-8 school in the Amphitheater Unified School District and held a Standard Secondary Education 7-12 Certificate which expired on July 14, 2014. She is facing discipline for an inappropriate relationship with a student.
On or about December 11, 2009, the mother of Student A, one of Ms. Smith’s 8th grade students, notified the principal at Richard B. Wilson K-8 school (“Wilson”) in the Amphitheater Unified School District (“AUSD”), that she had discovered inappropriate text messages between Ms. Smith and Student A on Student A’s cell phone. Ms. Smith was immediately placed on administrative leave.
Oro Valley Police Department (“OVPD”) investigated the matter and found that there were numerous text messages of a romantic nature, including repeated messages from Ms. Smith telling Student A that she loved him and using profanity in some of the messages.
On December 17, 2009, Ms. Smith resigned from her teaching position with AUSD. On or about January 4, 2010, the OVPD designated the case as: “Disposition: Nonchargeable.”
On September 1, 2015, In lieu of a formal complaint, the Investigative Unit of the State Board of Education (“Board”) offered Ms. Smith a settlement agreement for a 2-year suspension of her teaching certificate, with conditions.
Recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee (“PPAC”)
The PPAC, at its September 8, 2015, meeting, recommended by a vote of 3 to 1 that the Board approve the settlement agreement.
Recommendation to the Board
It is recommended that the Board accept the recommendation of the PPAC and approve the settlement agreement for 2-year suspension, with conditions, of certification of Cathleen Smith and that all states and territories be so notified.
John Leslie Prather holds a Standard Secondary Education, 6-12 valid through December 23, 2020, and a Substitute Certification valid through July 1, 2099.
On November 10, 2014, Mr. Prather was using his school computer to load a school related video to show to his 8th grade students. The video was to be projected onto the classroom’s Smart Board. While waiting for the video to load, Mr. Prather used his school computer to engage in an online Facebook messaging conversation with a 56-year-old female friend, and that typed conversation was inadvertently projected onto the Smart Board where the students could see the conversation. While viewing the conversation, Mr. Prather’s students observed the female friend asking him if he would take off her bra, and the students witnessed Mr. Prather responding in the affirmative and commenting “skin to skin.”
On November 18, 2014, Mr. Prather submitted a letter of resignation resigning from his teaching position with the Scottsdale Unified School District.
Recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee (PPAC)
The PPAC, at its September 9, 2015, meeting, recommended by a vote of 4 to 0 that the State Board approve the settlement agreement requiring the suspension of Mr. Prather’s teaching certificates for a period of three months, and that his Substitute Certificate will expire on December 23, 2020, rather than on July 1, 2099.
Recommendation to the Board
It is recommended that the Board accept the recommendation of the PPAC to approve the settlement agreement, modify the expiration of the substitute certificate held by Mr. Prather to December 23, 2020, and issue a three-month suspension of the certificates of John Leslie Prather, and that all states and territories be so notified.
David A. Bonsky holds a Standard Elementary Education certificate, 7-12, which expires on September 8, 2016.
Mr. Bonsky was a teacher at Utterback Middle School (“Utterback”) in the Tucson Unified School District (“TUSD”) located in Tucson, Arizona, from July, 2008, through November 30, 2012.
On November 13, 2012, a staff member reported to Utterback Assistant Principal Brian Lambert that Mr. Bonsky smelled of alcohol. Principal Cindy Mady and Assistant Principal Lambert immediately went to Mr. Bonsky’s classroom. Both confirmed that he smelled of alcohol.
Principal Mady and Assistant Principal Lambert drove Mr. Bonsky to Concentra Laboratory for a blood alcohol content (“BAC”) test. Mr. Bonsky’s BAC test showed his blood alcohol level was .047 at 9:04 a.m. and .046 at 9:22 a.m. After the BAC testing, Principal Mady and Assistant Principal Lambert drove Mr. Bonsky home. During the drive to Mr. Bonsky’s home, he told Assistant Principal Lambert that he had a problem and he was “sorry.”
On November 19, 2012, Mr. Bonsky resigned from his position with TUSD, effective November 30, 2012.
On or about May 10, 2013, the Investigative Unit advised Mr. Bonsky of the intent to file a complaint against his certificate.
On or about August 13, 2015, the Arizona State Board of Education (the “Board”) filed a complaint against Mr. Bonsky’s certificate alleging that his conduct constituted unprofessional conduct.
Recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee (PPAC)
On September 9, 2015, the PPAC held a hearing on the complaint. After hearing the testimonial evidence and reviewing the exhibits presented, the PPAC found that Mr. Bonsky was under the influence of alcohol while in the classroom and on school premises.
The PPAC recommended, by a vote of 4 to 0, that the Board revoke the certification of Mr. Bonsky.
Recommendation to the Board
That the Board accepts the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and the Recommendation of the PPAC to revoke David A. Bonsky’s certification, and that all states and territories be so notified.
Raenelle Gollihar holds a Provisional Elementary Endorsement and a Provisional Cross Categorical Special Education K-12 certificate, all of which expired March 16, 2015. She also holds a Substitute certificate which expires on December 29, 2017.
During the 2014 school year, Ms. Gollihar was a teacher at Dos Rios Elementary School (“Dos Rios”) in the Union Elementary School District (“UESD”) located in Tolleson, AZ.
On August 5, 2014, the administrative offices of Dos Rios received an anonymous call reporting that Ms. Gollihar was using illegal drugs and reporting to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
On August 5, 2014, Ms. Gollihar was interviewed by UESD administration members. During the interview, Ms. Gollihar admitted to consuming large amounts of vodka at home after work on a frequent basis and admitted to using a little “weed” every once in a while. Ms. Gollihar denied using cocaine or methamphetamine. Ms. Gollihar was taken to a medical clinic for drug testing where she produced a urine sample. She was reassigned to home during the investigation.
On August 12, 2014, Ms. Gollihar’s urine drug test results came back “positive” for marijuana, amphetamines, methamphetamines and D-methamphetamines. On August 12, 2014, Ms. Gollihar submitted a letter to UESD requesting release from her contract. UESD released Ms. Gollihar from her teaching contract effective August 13, 2015.
On June 15, 2015, the Board filed a complaint against Ms. Gollihar’s certificate alleging that her conduct constituted unprofessional conduct.
On September 8, 2015, the Professional Practices Advisory Committee (“PPAC”) found that Ms. Gollihar illegally possessed marijuana, methamphetamine, amphetamines, and D-methamphetamine. It also found that Ms. Gollihar was under the influence of marijuana, methamphetamine, amphetamines and D-methamphetamine while on school grounds on August 5, 2014.
Recommendation of Professional Practices Advisory Committee
The PPAC recommended, by a vote of 4 to 0, that the State Board revoke the certification of Ms. Gollihar.
Recommendation to the Board
That the Board accepts the recommendation of the PPAC to revoke Raenelle Gollihar certifications and that all states and territories be so notified.
Jacqueline Lake holds a Standard Elementary Education K-8 certificate, which expires December 1, 2016. In August, 2014, a kindergarten student with a severe peanut allergy was assigned to Ms. Lake’s classroom, and Ms. Lake’s classroom was required to be “Peanut Free”.
In February 2015, Ms. Lake requested the parents donate snacks and allowed peanuts and peanut products in her classroom.
In May 2015, she allowed a student of whom she had knowledge was allergic to peanuts and peanut products, to consume such product.
On May 20, 2015, Ms. Lake resigned from her position with the Litchfield Elementary School District effective at the end of the school year.
On June 23, 2015, in lieu of a formal complaint, the Investigative Unit of the State Board of Education (“Board”) offered Ms. Lake a settlement agreement for a Letter of Censure,
Recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee (PPAC)
The PPAC, at its September 9, 2015, meeting, recommended by a vote of 4 to 0 that the State Board approve the settlement agreement.
Recommendation to the Board
It is recommended that the Board accept the recommendation of the Professional Practices Advisory Committee and approve the settlement agreement for a Letter of Censure for Jacqueline Lake and that all states and territories be so notified.